Hyderabad: Telugu superstar Jr NTR sharply criticized Telangana Minister Konda Surekha on Thursday for her “unfounded accusations” linking Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader KT Rama Rao (KTR) to the highly publicized divorce of actors Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Naga Chaitanya.
Addressing the issue on social media, Jr NTR expressed his dismay, calling the dragging of personal lives into political discourse a “new low.” He emphasized that public figures, especially those holding responsible positions, must respect privacy and refrain from making baseless claims.
“Konda Surekha garu, dragging personal lives into politics is a new low. Public figures, especially those in responsible positions like you, must maintain dignity and respect for privacy,” Jr NTR wrote on X (formerly Twitter). He added, “It’s disheartening to see baseless statements thrown around carelessly, especially about the film industry. We will not sit quietly while others make baseless allegations against us. We should rise above this and maintain respect for each other’s boundaries. Let’s ensure our society does not normalize such reckless behaviour in democratic India.”
The minister’s controversial remarks came earlier this week when she alleged that KTR, son of former Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, played a pivotal role in the separation of Samantha and Naga Chaitanya. Surekha further accused KTR of influencing other actresses to leave the Telugu film industry early and settle into marriage, a claim that stirred significant outrage within both the political and film communities.
Reacting swiftly, Samantha urged the minister to avoid speculating about her personal life. In a statement, the actress clarified, “My divorce is a personal matter, and I request that you refrain from speculating about it. Our choice to keep things private doesn’t invite misrepresentation. To clarify: my divorce was by mutual consent and amicable, with no political conspiracy involved. Could you please keep my name out of political battles? I have always remained non-political and wish to continue doing so.”
Jr NTR’s strong stance highlights the growing frustration in the film industry over being dragged into political controversies, a trend that actors like Samantha have repeatedly condemned. His message also serves as a reminder to public figures about the need to maintain a certain level of decorum and respect for personal boundaries.
As the incident escalates, the film fraternity has largely backed Jr NTR and Samantha’s appeals for privacy, urging political leaders to refrain from making personal lives a subject of political mudslinging.
